Major COVID-19 Package Extends NAELA Priorities and More

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Congress recently passed the CARES Act, a major package to address the impacts of COVID-19. The Act extends NAELA's top legislative priorities: funding for Money Follows the Person and the requirement that states apply the spousal impoverishment protections to home and community-based services until November 30. The legislation also contained a number of provisions to help older adults and persons with disabilities, such as:

• Allowing Medicaid to cover direct support professionals in the hospital and acute care settings (Sec. 3715);
• Requiring Medicare Part D/MA-PD plans to allow up to three-month supply of refills during the COVID-19 emergency period (Sec. 3714); and
• Waiving required minimum distributions in retirement accounts for 2020 (Sec. 2203).

"During this time of distress and panic, it is comforting to know that the vulnerable populations NAELA serves are receiving important protections with the passage of the CARES Act," said NAELA President Jennifer VanderVeen, CELA, CAP, NAELA Fellow.

About NAELA

Members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. Upon joining, NAELA member attorneys agree to adhere to the NAELA Aspirational Standards. Established in 1987, NAELA is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to educate, inspire, serve, and provide community to attorneys with practices in elder and special needs law. NAELA currently has members across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit NAELA.org, or to locate a NAELA member in your area, visit NAELA.org/findlawyer.

SOURCE NAELA